Lawrence f



(No Model.)

L. F. PRAZEE.

GANG PLANK FOR VESSELS.

No. 314,325. Patented Mar. 24,1885.

WITNESSES 71) W Va ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE F. FRAZEE, OF

JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

GANG-PLANK FOR VESSELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,325, dated March 24, 1885.

Application filed December 4, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE F. FRAZEE, of Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Gang-Plank for Vessels, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact, description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved gang-plank having side rails, so that the gang-plank occupies very little space on the vessel or on dock when not in use.

The invention consists in the combination, with a gang-plank, of hinged side rails and latch-levers-for locking them in place when erected.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part .of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved gang-plank folded. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal partly-sectional view of the same, erected for use.

The gang'plank A is of the usual construction, and to its upper surface a side rail, B, is hinged at each longitudinal edge, the said rails being adapted to be folded down upon the uppersurface of the gang-plank. When the side rails are erected, their bottom edges are on the upper surface of the gang-plank.

On the outer surface of each side rail B a latch-lever, G, is pivoted at or near the middle, and is provided at its lower end with a notch, D, adapted to receive a pin, E, projecting from the side edge of the gang-plank to a guard, F, on the side edge of the plank. The upper edge of the lever Cforms a handle, and extends to the top edge of the side rail.

A block, G, is interposed between each lever G and the outer surface of the corresponding side rail, and serves to keep'the upper end of the lever a sufficient distance from the top of the said rail to permit a hand passed over the said rail to clear the said lever.

A check-block, H, is secured to the outer surface of each side rail at the lever.

One lever C is suflicient for each side rail, but more may be provided, if desired.

When the gang-plank is not in use,the side rails,B,are swung down upon the top of the plank, as shown in Fig. 1. When folded, the gang-plank occupies much less space than gang-planks having fixed sides, and can be placed against the bulwarks or guards of the vessel,and is entirely out of the way. When the side rails are folded do\vn,thelatch levers G are parallel with the top and bottom pieces of the rails.

When the gangplank is to be used,the side rails are swung up intothe vertical position, andare locked in place by swinging the latchlevers 0 into the vertical position, thus causing the notched lower ends to catch on the pins E. The side rails are held securely,and can be folded very easily and rapidly after the plank has been drawn on board again.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isv l. The combination, with a gang-plank, of hinged side rails, pins projecting from the side edges of the plank, and latch-levers pivoted on the side rails, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination, with the gang-plank A, provided with the pins E and guards F, of the hinged side rails, B, and the hooks O, pivoted to the side rails and engaging the said pins when the side rails are in an upright position, substantially as herein shown and described.

LAWRENCE F. FRAZEE.

Witnesses:

OSCAR F. GUNZ, G. SEDGWIOK. 

